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Thursday, November 1, 2012

POPLARVILLE — The reigning MACJC and Region 23 women’s and men’s soccer champions — namely Pearl River Community College — eye NJCAA district contests this weekend with the winners earning berths in the upcoming national tournament.

PRCC’s women, 12-2 overall, will host Brevard (Fla.), ranked No. 1 in the NJCAA Division I women’s soccer poll with a 12-1 overall mark, Saturday at 1 p.m. for the District H championship; while PRCC’s men, undefeated at 14-0, travel to Tyler JC in Tyler, Tex., for the District P playoffs.

The Wildcats will face Paris (Tex.) at 8 p.m. Friday with the winner of that contest taking on the winner of the host Tyler versus Meridian (Region 23 runner-up) at 3 p.m. Saturday in the district championship game.

The River defeated Meridian for the regional championship last Saturday at Lamar School in Meridian 2-1.

Paris CC is 7-6 overall heading into the district event, while Tyler is 16-2-1.

The NJCAA women’s nationals will be held at Brevard CC in Melbourne, Fla., while the men’s nationals are set for Darton College in Albany, Ga. Both events are set for Nov. 11-17.

Jack Byrd coaches the Lady Wildcat squad, while Paul Martin, who was named the men’s Region 23 ‘Coach of the Year’ for 2012, coaches the Wildcat team.

Since 1999's inaugural season of Pearl River soccer, it’s women previously won state titles in 2005 and 2009, as well as a total of six South Division championships; while its men were also state champs in 2003 and boast three division crowns. Neither squad has ever won a regional title or a berth in the NJCAA nationals.